Any Other Vegan Runners...?

I have been reading Scott Jureks book Eat and Run, and it has inspired me to try out a vegan diet to see if my running improves like he claims his has( I am currently training for a half marathon). I am new to eating vegan, and was just wondering if there were others out there that have been vegans for a while who could give me advice on nutrition, or if there were just simply other vegans out there to talk to about recipes/struggles/good finds, etc.

I've been vegan/vegetarian for 7 years now. I don't think there are any more benefits of avoiding meat or all animal products than there are to just eating real whole food. Honestly, I believe most of the benefit comes from eating more plants, not eating less animals.

My typical diet is oats and fruit in the AM, a green smoothie in the afternoon, dinner is usually some type of asian/italian/indian/mexican/stir fry dish (aka not typical american meat & potatoes). Those meals along with 2-3 snacks here and there.

I think if your only reason for going vegan is to see if your running improves you're barking up the wrong tree. To do vegan right it takes knowledge and skills that most people coming off a normal diet don't have. If you put in half the effort of acquiring that knowledge and those skills into improving your current diet without the vegan restrictions you're more likely to see an improvement in your running, and at much less effort. If you put 1/100th of that effort into your actual training you're going to be even more likely to see improvements in your running. Just to give you some perspective.

On the other hand, if you have other reason(s) for going vegan that you feel very strongly about that aren't dependent on seeing an improvement in your running, you're more likely to commit to acquiring the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully maintain a vegan diet.

If you're committed to adopting a vegan diet, I think kjkranz hit on a very important point - you need to focus on what you're adding to your diet rather than what you're removing from it. I also suggest transitioning slowly so that you can experiment with new foods and recipes to see how your body responds.

As far as resources, specific to running I think Brendan Brazier's book Thrive is a great resource. If you like magazines, consider subscriptions to VegNews and Vegan Health & Fitness Magazine. The better cookbooks I've found are The 30 Minute Vegan, The Vegan Table, and Vegan With A Vengeance.

My personal experience is that I went vegan for several reasons, non of which related to my athletic performance. However, I didn't see any change in how I felt or performed when I went vegetarian but I did when I went vegan. Again, that improvement was essentially insignificant compared to the improvements I could gain through training alone. Proper diet is essential to maintain training but fiddling with the details of a proper diet should be viewed only as a supplement to training as it relates to athletic performance. In the same way stretching or core work is supplemental.

I am going to school to become a nutritionist, so I already understand the importance of a healthy diet, and have eaten really healthy since I started running. The health/environmental benefits of going vegan is really what convinced me to make the switch. I have been doing a LOT of research on what foods to eat, because I totally agree that it's more about what you are adding, not what you are taking away. What I like about a plant based diet is that it also reduces my footprint, and since going vegan I do actually feel better about myself, because I do really care about animals and how they are treated. I guess it just makes me feel closer to nature, which might sound cheesy, but it's true.

I am going to school to become a nutritionist, so I already understand the importance of a healthy diet, and have eaten really healthy since I started running. The health/environmental benefits of going vegan is really what convinced me to make the switch. I have been doing a LOT of research on what foods to eat, because I totally agree that it's more about what you are adding, not what you are taking away. What I like about a plant based diet is that it also reduces my footprint, and since going vegan I do actually feel better about myself, because I do really care about animals and how they are treated. I guess it just makes me feel closer to nature, which might sound cheesy, but it's true.

Are you going to school to become a dietitian? I have a BS in Clinical Nutrition with a specialization in Dietetics, but did not continue on to the internship. And as cheesy as it sounds, I eat a plant based diet for ethical reasons as well

I am going to school to become a nutritionist, so I already understand the importance of a healthy diet, and have eaten really healthy since I started running. The health/environmental benefits of going vegan is really what convinced me to make the switch. I have been doing a LOT of research on what foods to eat, because I totally agree that it's more about what you are adding, not what you are taking away. What I like about a plant based diet is that it also reduces my footprint, and since going vegan I do actually feel better about myself, because I do really care about animals and how they are treated. I guess it just makes me feel closer to nature, which might sound cheesy, but it's true.

Are you going to school to become a dietitian? I have a BS in Clinical Nutrition with a specialization in Dietetics, but did not continue on to the internship. And as cheesy as it sounds, I eat a plant based diet for ethical reasons as well

Yes, I am. It's something I am really interested in, and want to help others learn how to take better care of themselves.

I am going to school to become a nutritionist, so I already understand the importance of a healthy diet, and have eaten really healthy since I started running. The health/environmental benefits of going vegan is really what convinced me to make the switch. I have been doing a LOT of research on what foods to eat, because I totally agree that it's more about what you are adding, not what you are taking away. What I like about a plant based diet is that it also reduces my footprint, and since going vegan I do actually feel better about myself, because I do really care about animals and how they are treated. I guess it just makes me feel closer to nature, which might sound cheesy, but it's true.

Are you going to school to become a dietitian? I have a BS in Clinical Nutrition with a specialization in Dietetics, but did not continue on to the internship. And as cheesy as it sounds, I eat a plant based diet for ethical reasons as well

Yes, I am. It's something I am really interested in, and want to help others learn how to take better care of themselves.

Good luck I was really disappointed with the program. Yours may differ, but mine was extremely clinical in nature. It was sickcare, not healthcare. Lots of general nutrition and specifics on how to work with patients who are already in the hospital, almost nothing preventative (which is what I'm truly interested in).

I cannot understand what might motivate you. Jurek is an n=1 case, but you are not him at any rate. Why would you want to feed your body in a manner that is quite inconsistent with the way we evolved for maximum performance? Sort of a square peg/round hole thing from a dietary perspective.

SwillaZilla - It's fine if you have your own eating ethos but it's not the only one. There's no need to attack others who don't buy yours. Your anonymous opinion of Jurek that runs counter to the ultra and even mainstream running communities notwithstanding, he's not the only one performing at an elite level on a vegan diet. The OP explained why she's motivated to eat vegan so you either won't read (not surprising of the paleo / crossfit zealots), can't read, or can't comprehend what you read. Apparently you also missed high school biology - we didn't evolve for maximum performance. We evolved for survival based on what was geographically and seasonally available to us. Our diets are no longer limited by geography, seasons, or pre-agricultural foods. A vegan diet as a hell of a lot closer to what our ancestors ate than the typical diet of someone living in an industrialized society. Do you also criticize the masses when you see people eating in public?

Actually, a vegan diet is nowhere close to an ancestral one. Every traditional hunter-gatherer culture ever recorded relied heavily on animals for food sources. Also, as vegan diet is almost necessarily a high-carbohydrate diet; not one mammal on this earth (besides humans who choose to do so) exists on a high-carb diet.

Actually, a vegan diet is nowhere close to an ancestral one. Every traditional hunter-gatherer culture ever recorded relied heavily on animals for food sources. Also, as vegan diet is almost necessarily a high-carbohydrate diet; not one mammal on this earth (besides humans who choose to do so) exists on a high-carb diet.

You gotta get strong to chase and kill animals; it probably came from eating stuff that never moves.

Actually, a vegan diet is nowhere close to an ancestral one. Every traditional hunter-gatherer culture ever recorded relied heavily on animals for food sources. Also, as vegan diet is almost necessarily a high-carbohydrate diet; not one mammal on this earth (besides humans who choose to do so) exists on a high-carb diet.

I didn't write that it was. I wrote it was closer than the typical diet of someone living in an industrial society. Which it is. As for macronutrient composition, "almost necessarily" is not "necessarily" and a key distinction lost on someone with an agenda. With some basic knowledge of nutrition and food it's quite easy to have an appropriate breakdown of macronutrients on any diet. Most nutrition experts have acknowledged that there's a much wider window of macronutrient percentages on which humans can maximize health and performance than previously thought. The one size fits all approach and "evolutionary justification" of paleo are both fallacies.

The bottom line is that most people can achieve optimal health and performance on almost any diet including vegan. The whole point of people participating here is to support others in achieving those ends. If you want to facilitate that, great. If you're only going to criticize based on your unjustified sense of superiority, what's the point of participating?

Yes, one can eat in a healthful manner on most any dietary plan, provided that plan is flexible enough to allow it. However, the most direct path is obviously to follow the plan to which our bodies are adapted. Indeed, a vegan diet is feasible, but most vegans I've known, and most of the vegan literature I've read, seem to veer toward a high-carb diet, lots of grains, etc. I know plenty of vegans/vegetarians and I don't try to give them advice unless they ask for it. It's kind of like people who like smooth jazz...I can't begin to understand it, but it's their right to do what they want, so I'm unlikely to dissuade them.

Yes, one can eat in a healthful manner on most any dietary plan, provided that plan is flexible enough to allow it. However, the most direct path is obviously to follow the plan to which our bodies are adapted. Indeed, a vegan diet is feasible, but most vegans I've known, and most of the vegan literature I've read, seem to veer toward a high-carb diet, lots of grains, etc. I know plenty of vegans/vegetarians and I don't try to give them advice unless they ask for it. It's kind of like people who like smooth jazz...I can't begin to understand it, but it's their right to do what they want, so I'm unlikely to dissuade them.

Those darn elite Kenyan runners and their high CHO, low animal based diets...(only ~14% of their cals from animal source and ~76% of cals from CHO). Someone better show them the latest paleo book.

The whole idea of our body being adapted to whatever diet you feel it is can be supported by various dietary practices. It is a poor excuse IMO.

I'm a vegan, for ethical and health reasons. I also have Celiac Disease, so my diet is gluten free (and oat free since I seem to be reactive even to GF oats). I went vegan about a year ago -- have never felt better (but that's not the only reason I do it). My oldest daughter (now 12) is also a vegan.

I actually have a question: I think I am having digestive issues with soy (I only buy/eat organic soy and tofu stuff but even so) -- similar to how I used to react to dairy. If I limit it to once or twice a week, I'm ok but more than that is not good. My go-to post long run meal has been a tofu scramble with vegetables, so I'm trying to find something to replace that which is satisfying and fairly hearty. Any suggestions are welcome (also when I'm post long run, I usually cannot pull it together to do a big cooking project, so anything too fussy won't work).

After my long runs I don't wanna cook either! lol I just wanna get some food and lay in bed and eat! What I usually have, and LOVE that is super easy and good for post recovery is two pieces of EZEKIEL 4:9 bread (which luckily enough for you is gluten free, I just checked) slathered in almond/soy nut/peanut/ or whatever kind of nut butter you prefer, then sprinkled with chia seeds (they stick nicely to the nut butter) then top them off with a sliced banana, and a sprinkle of cinnamon. I know it's kinda simple, but it's one of my favorite things to eat, and it wont take you very long to make.

I've never tried going vegan myself, but my friend did, also after reading Scott Jurek's book I can't add more than you can read in a book or more than others already said. Maybe except the fact, that it's a very individual matter. You can try to go vegan for some time, but if you start to feel weak or unhealthy you can always quit It's just important to be self-aware.Also I can recommend you one of the simple recipes my friend taught me Just use a blender to mix parsley, basil, olive oil and pistachios to make vegan pesto and eat it with pasta. Of course, egg-less kind Enjoy

I recently switched to a mostly vegetarian diet this year. My wife and I have had great success with the Forks Over Knives vegan cookbook. I would definitely suggest it as it's expanded the contents of our kitchen and we've made some very good vegan recipes from it. It's also forced us to learn new skills in the kitchen!

I took up running, and working out in general, because after making the switch from being a vegetarian (9 years) to vegan I had so much energy I didn't know what to do with myself.

I went vegetarian for ethical reasons at the age of 16, thought that I could never "give up" dairy, but after doing more reading and doing some serious introspection I decided to give it a go. Glad I did, I think that is was one of the best decisions I have ever made for myself.

Due to cholesterol issues in my 25 year old, 128 lb wife, we went to the Engine2 Diet for several months. Look it up, its pretty remarkable. The mans father has an awesome book with very supportive evidence of a no-cholesterol-no-oil-no-meat lifestyle. While we jumped in head first, ridding the house of EVERYTHING potentially harmful (and yummy...) I wouldnt recommend that drastic of a switch. Our bodies went through a very uncomfortable detox, roughly 8 days. I had gone from next to no veggies, to mostly veggies, sourcing my proteins from quinoa, liquid aminos, and whole grains (ie fiber) and eating fruit for breakfast every day. It was difficult. But the first thing that I noticed was energy. My body wasnt bogged down by so much garbage, and cholesterol, and fat. Our bodies naturally produce cholesterol, and as long as the ratio stays safe, an uber low number is a good thing. Then my weight started to go down. 220, 215, 210, 200!! Now I've rested comfortably at 183, I'm 6'2", and have begun running this year for the first time since 2007. My wife dropped 101 points off of her cholesterol in less than 5 months, she is under 150 points now, and we've even taken to incorporating lean, natural meats. No Tyson chicken, or hotdogs, or beef period. But as long as our levels stay low, its still a great way to get our protein.

As a Christian I don't believe in our bodies "evolutionary adaptation" to eating a mostly meat diet. And if you go to undeveloped nations, they don't. Anyone can grow a vegetable, but picking up a pound of beef on the way home is unheard of. Believe me, I've spent time in these areas, and not only is the diet mostly plant based, but they have MUCH lower percentages of heart and coronary disease. Period. No book, no article, I've seen it with my own two eyes. I also dont believe in veganism for ethical reasons, aside from a boycott of Tyson for the way they treat not only their animals, but employees.

Bottom line, a plant-based diet cant ever be a BAD thing. Athletes at the top level of every major sport, albeit not a large percentage, live this lifestyle with amazing results. Look the RB Arian Foster last year in the NFL. It was a vegan diet that raised the bar in EVERY SINGLE PERFORMANCE mark of his game. Good nutrition, however it comes, is the key. Whats the worst that can happen? You try it, it sucks, you eat a steak. Win win.

I've been vegan for about 3 months now and I love it! Unfortunately I can't seem to keep weight on my already slim frame and am now trying to gain weight on a vegan diet which is difficult. As someone studying nutrition, do you have any tips for me? I'm definitely sticking with veganism-I adopted the diet about a month before a marathon and ended up dropping 13 minutes. I would say that it was a major factor in that!

I've been vegan for about 3 months now and I love it! Unfortunately I can't seem to keep weight on my already slim frame and am now trying to gain weight on a vegan diet which is difficult. As someone studying nutrition, do you have any tips for me? I'm definitely sticking with veganism-I adopted the diet about a month before a marathon and ended up dropping 13 minutes. I would say that it was a major factor in that!

I am also naturally slim and run a lot as well. What I do to keep my weight up is to make sure I eat a lot of calorie dense vegan foods. For example, I have a cabinet full of almond/soy nut/peanut/cashew and other nut butters that I put on everything and go through pretty quickly! Also, veggies and fruits are important for nutrients, but some things like salad and celery will make you feel full on a lot less calories, so try to limit the amount of low calorie fruits and veggies and eat more that are higher in calories such as sweet potatoes, corn and avocados (for even more calories, you can slather almond butter on a baked sweet potato... SO GOOD!). Also, I find eating a small meal like a peanut butter and banana sandwich before bed helps too. Your metabolism slows down at night, so if you eat right before you go to bed it gives your body a chance to store some extra calories to make up for all of the ones you burn off on your long runs!

Hope this helps!

Also thanks everyone for the stories/advice! For a little while there it seemed like all this thread was going to draw was negative opinions towards going vegan.

I've been a vegetarian for 8 years and vegan for six months and when I went vegan, I noticed a big difference with recovery times. My wife makes most meals and has a blog with amazing recipes at http://roadtovegan.com which you should check out. To me the secret is knowing how to eat vegan to truly get the benefits.

I've been a vegetarian for 8 years and vegan for six months and when I went vegan, I noticed a big difference with recovery times. My wife makes most meals and has a blog with amazing recipes at http://roadtovegan.com which you should check out. To me the secret is knowing how to eat vegan to truly get the benefits.

Cool! Allyson is there a way to subscribe? I didn't see it on the page.

For those who don't already subscribe, VegNews is a really good magazine for vegan living/cooking/advocacy. I love it. Runner's World has a nice vegan recipe this month -- it's good to see some mainstream acknowledgement of this way of living.

It is interesting to read the various replies. I have been a vegetarian for 32 years and a vegan for the last two years of that time. My reason for going to a vegan diet was tied directly to issues with cholesterol. However, after making the switch I do feel there is more energy in my life. Close attention to what I eat has allowed me to age gracefully and remain competitive in races. There seems to be a quicker recovery from hard training and races also. Important to remember that we are all an experiment of one so what works for one person may not work for you (or me). The vegan diet is definitely worth a try!